After Hamas conducted a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, Polish President Andrzej Duda announced on Sunday that Poland would send military aircraft to rescue its nationals from that country.

“We are evacuating Poles who are now residing in Israel using air force transport aircraft. On board safety and loading protection will be provided by members of our special forces, Duda said on the social networking site X.

Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said Poland was sending two C-130 Hercules planes to evacuate some 200 Poles from Ben Gurion Airport.

It would add more planes if necessary or liaise with Greece to ferry Polish citizens to the Mediterranean country before bringing them home on Casa transport planes.

“We are in talks on establishing an evacuation bridge… with Greece,” Blaszczak said at a press conference.

“We can expect these planes to take off any moment, arrive at their destination and pick up Polish tourists waiting at the airport,” he added.

Polish state-owned airline LOT cancelled flights to Ben Gurion.